Key roles & Areas

By Elliot Woodward

Film production is the process of making a film.For the exam you'll need to understand all the stages of film production,

these are:

Development - This is simply the process of 'finding' a story. Ideas for films come from a variety of sources; they can range from novels, real life events to computer game adaptations. Once you've got an idea you'll need someone to write a pitch for you which you take to a film producer in an attempt to get some funding to make your film. Even at this very early stage you need a very clear idea of who you're aiming you film at so you can include elements that will appeal to them.Pre-production - Once you've got funding you establish your budget and can begin to get a film crew together, you can storyboard the script. You also need break the script down into individual scenes and identify all the locations, props, cast members, costumes, special effects and visual effects needed.Production - This is simply the process of 'making' the film. Provided you've done your job properly in the pre-production stage making the film should be straight forward. 'Film' is very expensive and difficult to store so an increasing number of film makers are using digital cameras to save money.Post-production - During this stage you take all the 'film' you've shot and give it to a film editor. They will then begin putting it together. Special effects will be added, a soundtrack will be added, any missing dialogue will be re-recorded and added resulting in a 'rough cut'. This will be shown to the director and a test audience who will offer feedback. Often this causes scenes to be filmed and added or removed.

Writer

• Screenwriters create screenplays for films. They provide the blueprint for the creative input of the Producer, Director, Production Designer, Composer and Editor, cast and crew. In some cases the original Screenwriter may be replaced entirely by another Screenwriter. In this case the original Screenwriter may then receive a "Screenstoryby..." credit on the finished film.

Claude-Michel Schönberg

is the writer of Les

Miserables film (2012).

Producer

• Producers are

responsible for all

aspects of a film's

production, putting

together a creative and

talented cast and crew,

and turning story ideas

into profitable films.

They steer the film from

beginning to

completion and

beyond.

Cameron Mackintosh is the

producer of Les Miserables

film (2012).

Casting Director

- In pre-production, Casting

Directors work with both the

Director and Producer to assemble

the perfect cast for the film. As a

result, Casting Directors must

have in-depth and up-to-date

knowledge of new and existing

acting talent. They are responsible

for matching the ideal actor to

each role, based on a number of

factors, such as the actor's

experience, ability, reputation,

availability and box office appeal.

Casting Directors also work

closely with Production

Accountants to prepare the casting

budget.

Nina Gold is the casting director

of Les Miserables film (2012).

Director

• Directors are responsible for creatively translating the film's written script into actual images and sounds on the screen. They are ultimately responsible for a film's artistic and commercial success or failure. Directors may write the film's script or commission it to be written, or they may be hired after an early draft of the script is complete. They must then develop a vision for the finished film and work out how to achieve it. Directors also have the role of keeping the full team motivated striving to reach the best possible results.

Tom Hooper is the

director of Les

Miserables film (2012).

Film Finance

• There are two types of Financial Controllers:

1. A large production company, studio or broadcaster

may employ a Production Accountant or qualified

Accountant as a Financial Controller, to manage

the finances of all of the company's activities,

including those of individual productions.

2. On larger productions, a freelance Senior

Production Accountant may work as a Financial

Controller to oversee the work of the Production

Accountant and Accounts team.

• The role of a Financial Controller is very

challenging. They are responsible for controlling

the accounting, taxation and financial analysis for

all of the work a company does, including

development, production and distribution.

Universal Pictures is the

production company who

financed Les Miserables film

(2012).

Camera Operator

• They carry out the Director of

Photography’s (DoP) and

Director’s instructions for shot

composition and

development. They are

usually the first people to use

the camera's eyepiece to

assess how all the elements

of performance, art direction,

lighting, composition and

camera movement come

together to create the

cinematic experience.

Simon Finney is the

camera operator for the

Les Miserables Film

(2012).

Editor

• Editors are one of the key Heads of Department on feature films, responsible for First Assistant Editors, and on bigger productions, Second Assistants and Trainees. The Editor works closely with the Director, crafting the daily rushes into a coherent whole. To ensure that the story flows effortlessly from beginning to end, each shot is carefully chosen and edited into a series of scenes, which are in turn assembled to create the finished film.

Chris Dickens is the Editor

of Les Miserables film

(2012).

Production Designer

• Production Designers

are major heads of

department on film

crews, and are

responsible for the

entire art department.

They help Directors to

define and achieve the

look and feel of a film.Eve Stewart is the production

designer for Les Miserables film

(2012).

Marketing

• The Marketing and Publicity

Managers' main responsibility is

to convince the public that this is

a 'must-see' movie. Once

Distributors have identified the

target audiences and potential

revenue, the marketing campaign

should reach target audiences

before and during film

releases. When the film opens,

audiences’ interest should be at

its peak. After release, the

Marketing and Publicity Manager

needs to increase interest in the

film with more promotion and

troubleshoot any problems.

David Dolman is the market

director for Les Miserables

film (2012).

Exhibition

• Distributors acquire films via deals with studios, and production companies, and/or through film sales agents who represent filmmakers. Distributors may either be 'majors', who are affiliated to Hollywood studios and handle their films, or 'independents' who handle films made outside the Hollywood studio system.

Universal Pictures exhibited

Les Miserables Film (2012).